The Apostolic Church is an international Christian denomination and Pentecostal movement that emerged from the Welsh Revival of 1904–1905. Although the movement began in the United Kingdom, the largest national Apostolic Church became The Apostolic Church Nigeria. The term "Apostolic" refers to the role of apostles in the denomination's church government, as well as a desire to emulate 1st century Christianity in its faith, practices, and government.
History
Beginning
thumb|right|The Apostolic Temple, Pen-y-groes
thumb|right|The former Apostolic Church International Bible School, Pen-y-groes
The earliest historians of the Apostolic Church date its beginnings to 1911, when three groups of people in three locations in the village of Penygroes received the Pentecostal baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Apostolic Church had adopted a system of presbyteries to govern the church collegially. While ministers were ordained as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, elders or teachers all were involved in prayer and deliberation together in presbyteries at local, sectional and national levels. The names of these governing bodies eventually became distinct: the presbytery of the local church retained the name "presbytery", the regional body became known as the classis, and later, the Area Pastors' Meeting and the national governing body adopted the name of General Council. Church government was not reserved to the apostles alone, as they were regarded as first among equals () among the other ministers, requiring a collegial government.
Split
For a period, the Welsh churches were associated with William Oliver Hutchinson and the Apostolic Faith Church in Bournemouth, England. However, on 8 January 1916, Daniel Powell Williams and most of the Welsh assemblies separated from Hutchinson and the Apostolic Faith Church over doctrinal matters, and established the Apostolic Church in Wales (ACW). After 1916, the two groups had no further contact and developed along different doctrinal paths. It had 15 million members in approximately 100 countries.
Theology
Ecclesiology has taken a prominent place in the theology of the movement. The Church is defined as the Body of Christ and the headship of Christ is given prominence. Christ is seen to express his headship through the ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, elders and teachers.
Colleges
The Apostolic Church established its first theological college, the Apostolic Church International Bible School, in the village of Pen-y-groes in 1933. Colleges and seminaries have also been established in eleven other countries.
Hymnal
In the past, the standard hymnal of the Apostolic Church was the Redemption Hymnal, which was produced by a joint committee from the Apostolic Church, the Elim Pentecostal Church, and the Assemblies of God in Great Britain and Ireland.
See also
- List of the largest Protestant bodies
References
External links
- Apostolic Church in the United Kingdom (official website)